Recaps courtesy of Central Michigan Athletic Communications
Central Michigan 85, Olivet College 65
Box Score
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Senior center Nathan Claerbaut scored a career-high 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Central Michigan to an 85-65 men's basketball victory over Olivet Wednesday evening at McGuirk Arena.
Central Michigan opens Mid-American Conference play on Saturday, Dec. 20 at Northern Illinois for a 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT tipoff. The Chippewas will then travel to Madison, Wis. for a Monday, Dec. 22 contest at Wisconsin at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.
Claerbaut registered his third double-double, second 20-point scoring game, and third double figure rebounding game of the season. He also made a career-high 13 field goals on 17 attempts in 27 minutes of action. It was the first 30-point game at Central Michigan since Ugnius Jarusevicius scored 32 points vs. Akron on Feb. 15, 2025.
Tamario Adley nearly registered a triple double as he finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, Nick Mullen pitched in 10 points and eight rebounds, and Phat Phat Brooks had five assists and five steals. The Chippewas dished out 23 assists on 31 field goals, outrebounded Olivet 43-36, and forced 20 Olivet turnovers. The Chippewas converted 47 percent (31-65) of their field goal attempts but hit just 5-24 3-pointers.
Olivet sported a 2-3 zone defense.
Central Michigan led from start to finish. The Chippewas went up 8-2 in the game's first few minutes on two Phat Phat Brooks free throws. A Jaxon Whitaker 3-pointer gave Central Michigan a 17-7 lead at the 11:39 mark. Tamario Adley's layup put the Chippewas up 35-24 at halftime.
Central Michigan used a 5-0 run to push its lead to 48-32 on a 3-point play by Keenan Garner. A 3-pointer by Mullen gave CMU its largest lead of the night at 17 points, 51-34 with 15:23 to play.
Olivet cut the lead down to 10 points, 55-45, on a 3-pointer by Nathan Richardson.
But Central Michigan answered with a 9-0 run as Claerbaut scored back-to-back field goals and Whitaker swished a 3-pointer from the corner off a turnover, then Claerbaut scored again for a 64-47 lead with 9:02 to go.
Making the start for Central Michigan was Logan McIntire, Phat Phat Brooks, and Tamario Adley at guard, Nathan Claerbaut at center, and Nick Mullen at forward.
Olivet was led by Conner Schipper, who scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Sean Shenker finished with 12 points and Nathan Richardson added 11.
Central Michigan (4-7) improved to 24-5-1 all-time vs. Olivet and won its 11th straight vs. the Comets.
